Red candy apples are a classic fall treat with their shiny bright color, hard candy coating, and sweet or tart crisp apple underneath. It’s the best thing to make after apple picking, for a Halloween party, or just when you feel nostalgic and want to be a kid again.

Candy apples may look like an impressive dessert (and hard to make), but it’s actually pretty easy (just like our Easy Caramel Apples!)! We’ll show you how …

And just as a side note, since the sugar is extremely hot and you can get burned if not careful, we don’t recommend doing this project with kids. Just let them eat the final result rather than help with this one.

Looking for more fall treats? Check out:

What are candy apples?

Candy apples are a whole apple on a stick dipped in hot melted sugars which hardens to form a thin candy shell. While usually red, they can also be dyed other colors and they first appeared in 1908 in New Jersey when candy maker William Kolb created them. Red Hots candies were a popular choice to use for the outer coating, so some prefer to make theirs a cinnamon flavor coating to mimic that nostalgic flavor.

Ingredients for candy apples:

• Apples: Using smaller apples will get you more finished apples out of one batch of candy coating. Try and pick ones with a nice round shape for the best looking candy apples.
• White sugar: This candy apple recipe uses plain granulated white sugar to give the candy coating its sweetness.
• Light corn syrup: Corn syrup helps you get that smooth candy finish.
• Water: The water mostly boils off while the candy rises up to the proper hard crack stage temperature.
• Red food coloring: Gel food coloring is preferred if you have it since it’s more concentrated so the color is brighter for the best candy apples.

Supplies for candy apples:

• Apple skewers: You can also use popsicle sticks or even sticks from branches for your skewers, but we like these bamboo ones since they already have a point for easy insertion.

How to prepare your apples:

Wash and dry apples: You want to try and remove any wax coating that’s on the apples so your coating will stick and you can avoid getting annoying bubbles that pop out of the coating.

You can scrub them really well with a clean textured scrubber after rinsing them in hot water and rub them dry with a textured towel to try and remove as much wax as you can, or some people like to boil water and dip the apples in the water for about 5 seconds before rubbing dry (longer than 8-10 seconds can start to cook the apples, so don’t leave them in too long!).

Make sure the apples are fully dry before dipping as any amount of water will create bubbles in your coating.

Add skewers: Push or tap your wooden skewers or lollipop sticks halfway into the top of your dried apples and set aside.

How to make candy apples:

Prepare your pan: Prepare a sheet pan or parchment paper sprayed with nonstick spray or butter so you’ll be able to remove the apples easily once cooled.

Cook your coating: Combine sugar, water, corn syrup, and food coloring in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir together with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula and bring the sugar mixture to a boil with a candy thermometer clipped to your pot (make sure it’s not touching the bottom of the pot or it won’t be an accurate read).

Bring coating up to 300°: Let the mixture boil for about 15-20 minutes on medium-high heat until it reaches between 300°-310°. Remove the coating from the heat and allow the bubbles to settle down for a minute until smooth.

Dip your apples: Working quickly, tilt your pan to the side and dip an apple in the candy mixture, swirling the apple to get each side coated. Pull the apple out and let the excess drip off before placing on a prepared baking sheet, wax paper, silicone mat or parchment paper (just coat whichever one you use with cooking spray).

If the candy coating starts to harden before you are done dipping all your apples, put it back on medium heat until it thins out again.

NOTE: Remember, this sugar is very hot, so be sure to keep your skin away from the sugar to avoid burns. You can also have a bowl of ice water nearby just in case you make contact with the sugar so you can quickly dip your hand in that, or even use heatproof gloves made for cooking.

Let cool: Once all your apples are dipped, let the coating harden (it just takes a few minutes) and your apples are ready to eat! Remember, candy apples have a hard sticky coating, so eat with caution!

Tips for Making Candy Apples

• Use organic apples if you can since some companies don’t use wax on their apples so you don’t have to try to remove it. Or use apples from a local orchard that doesn’t wax their apples.

• Make sure your sugar reaches the 300° mark or the coating won’t harden and it will be more of a taffy texture.

• Try and keep the candy shell thin when you dip; it doesn’t need to be super thick and will be harder to eat.
• If you want to add a topping to your apples, just roll them in chopped coconut, nuts or sprinkles before the candy coating sets.

• You can make your candy apples a color other than red if you want! Just remember the color of the apple comes through a bit and may muddle your final color depending on what shade you pick, but purple or black for Halloween is fun!

What the best way to clean your pot after making candy apples?

Now that your candy apples are made, you may be staring at your pot thinking “Now, how am I ever going to clean that?!” It’s actually pretty easy!

• Fill your pot with water.
• Boil the water on the stove, stirring every so often.
• Once the candy leftover is dissolved, pour the water out and the hardened sugar is gone!

If you have some sugar up on the sides of your pot above the boiling water line, just use a spatula to keep pulling up some of the hot water over that spot until it starts to dissolve.

You can also dip your thermometer into the water as it boils to remove any hardened candy for the tip of that as well.

How do you store candy apples?

Candy apples can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator, although they are usually best eaten in the first 24 hours. The outer hard shell will last longer than three days, but the hole that is poked into the apple is what starts to oxidize the apple after a few days and makes it mushy inside.

These apple recipes include cozy apple desserts, breakfast ideas, and more! They’re perfect for making after apple picking or on any crisp fall day.

Have you gone apple picking yet this fall? I haven’t, but I’m already dreaming about all the apple recipes I’ll make once I do. I’ll toss raw apples into fresh fall salads, pile them on my morning overnight oats, and of course make cozy apple desserts like apple cake and apple crisp.

In case you’re looking for fall apple inspiration, I’ve rounded up these and more of our best apple recipes below. Some are sweet, some are savory, and all of them are perfect for fall. Make one after a trip to an apple orchard…or on any cool day. Happy apple season, friends!

Apple Desserts

Apple Crisp

I make this classic apple dessert every single fall! With a buttery brown sugar and oat topping, it’s so much easier than pie…but just as delicious.

Apple Cake

This apple cake is amazingly moist, warmly spiced, and easy to make in one bowl. It goes QUICK in our house, but on the rare occasion we have leftovers, I love eating a slice for breakfast.

Apple Pie

You can’t make a list of apple recipes and not include apple pie! I add a little lemon zest to the cinnamon-spiced filling for a bright, fresh twist.

Applesauce Cake

Tangy cream cheese frosting takes this simple spice cake over the top.

Baked Apples

Don’t feel like chopping apples for a pie or crisp? This recipe is the apple dessert for you! You’ll top apple halves with a brown sugar and cinnamon crumble, then bake until they’re soft and juicy.

Apple Oatmeal Cookies

These healthy apple cookies are totally vegan and gluten-free. Oat flour and whole rolled oats give them a delicious soft texture, and almond butter adds nutty depth of flavor.

Apple Crumble

An oat-y, nutty topping covers a thick layer of cinnamon-spiced apples. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (or whipped cream), this recipe is my idea of a perfect fall dessert.

Apple Breakfast Recipes

Overnight Oats – Apple Pie Variation

These apple pie-inspired overnight oats are my favorite fall breakfast! I stir cinnamon and applesauce into the oats for cozy depth of flavor and top them off with sautéed cinnamon apples, fresh apples, and toasted pecans.

Apple Muffins

These moist, tender muffins are packed with juicy chunks of apple. I often enjoy them plain for breakfast, but when I’m craving more of a treat, I add a brown sugar crumble topping and a powdered sugar glaze.

Homemade Applesauce

This homemade applesauce is one of the simplest apple recipes on this list…but it’s also one of the best. Thick, sweet, and tangy, it’s far more flavorful than store-bought applesauce. Enjoy it on its own, or try it in a breakfast bowl with granola and yogurt!

Cinnamon Apple Scones

Dotted with diced apples and topped with a cinnamon glaze, these cute little scones are a festive fall treat. Tip: They freeze perfectly. I love to keep a stash on hand for grab-and-go breakfasts on busy mornings!

Savory Apple Recipes

Waldorf Salad

My fresher spin on this retro salad features a creamy, tangy Greek yogurt dressing. I love it with crackers or over greens for lunch.

Spinach Salad

This lush salad has a delicious mix of sweet and tart flavors. I love how the tart cranberries, feta, and tangy dressing balance the sweet apples and candied pecans. It’s always a crowd-pleasing side dish at a fall meal.

Sweet Potato Soup

I toss a whole apple into this creamy fall soup! It brings out the sweetness of the sweet potatoes, helping their flavor pop against the savory seasonings here.

Roasted Delicata Squash with Apples

This elegant side dish is practically fall on a plate! Creamy roasted delicata squash plays off hearty kale, savory herbs, pearl onions, and crisp apples. A tangy apple cider vinegar dressing ties it all together.

Farro Salad

Every fall, this salad is one of the apple recipes I make most often. Packed with nutty farro, salty pecorino, sweet dates, crisp apples, and bitter greens, it’s such a fresh, filling lunch!

Butternut Apple Cranberry Sandwich

Aka the ultimate fall sandwich! Crisp apples like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady are best here—I love how their crunch contrasts with the tender roasted squash.

How to Make a Cheese Board

Apples+cheese are a match made in heaven! If you need an easy appetizer for a fall gathering, simply slice apples and set them out with a few types of cheese to make a quick grazing board. Grapes, crackers, olives, and/or fig jam are nice additions too.

Kohlrabi Apple Slaw

When I come home from a fall farmers market with apples and kohlrabi, I always make this slaw. It’s super refreshing, filled with the crunchy kohlrabi, crisp apples, fresh herbs, and a tangy mustard dressing.

Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & Balsamic

Tender, sweet roasted beets and crisp, tart apples team up in this show-stopping fall salad. It’s one of my favorite recipes to make for fall gatherings. To get ahead, I always roast the beets a day or two in advance.